Boiler-feed apparatus.



W. L. LEONARD, N. SUHRIE & C. D. DOUTY.

BOILER FEED APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR.25, 1918.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

LQQEQL INVENTORS W. L. LEONARD, N. SUHRIE & C. D. DOUTY.

'BOILER FEED APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1918.

v Patented 001;. 22, 1913.

. 3SHEETS-SHEE 2. Pu.. Flfifi- E l E 66 5 I 42 30 g 68 67 4/ 65 lg X A Z 22 x H g; 65 O! 4/ I8 23 x I 40 39 Z0 '7 j 3 w 1, V l'l v 6 3th A V f r;

INVENTOHS W. L. LEONARD, N. SUHRIE & C. D. DOUTY.

BOILER FEED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 191B.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mamm.

FREE.

FBE.E.

INVENTORS n as rarer 'FFIKCE.

"WILLIAM L. LEONARD AND NORMAN SUHRIE, OF ALTOONA, AND CLARENCE D. DOUTY,

. F BARREE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOILER-FEED APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pafijfilllfljfid @6117. 22, 1913.,

Application filed March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,450.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VVILLIAM L. LEON- ARD and NORMAN SUHRIE, both residents of Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and

tion and increase the efiiciencyand utility ofapparatus of this type.

Heretofore it has been customary to embody in such apparatus separate and distinct hand operated devices, as wheels,flevers and the like, for operating the steam, water supply, and overflow valves, each in: tended to beseparately manipulated by the locomotive engineer, the operation altogether requiring seven distinct movements, so that the engineers attention at such times would be diverted and. arrested'from rail and signal conditions.

The principal objects of our invention.

are; first, to provide means in such apparatus whereby the saidvalves are all operated and controlled from a single point, tie, the lever of the steam valve, thereby attaining a simple and compacted structure in which only two movements are required to operate it; second, to provide an apparatus which may be readily assembled and in stalled and when installed may be easily op-,'

era-ted and regulated; third, to provide means in such apparatus whereby a-minimum flow of water supply is instantly available and whereby the supply may be conveniently and accurately regulated to provide for a water supply up to the maximum;

fourth, to provide means for insuring effective working of the movable valve parts under weather conditions of low temperatures; fifth, to provide in an apparatus of this character a pressure operated means for-automatically opening and closing the overflow, and thereby prevent occurrence of water waste due to carelessness or oversight of the engineer in forgetting to close his overflow valve while the feed water valve was still open; sixth, to produce an apparatus of this type wherein waterpound and valve jamming and locking are eliminated; and seventh, to provide a quick acting apparatus designed to speedily and effectively replenish the boiler and in a manner permitting the engineer .t properly control the boiler pressure.

These, together with such other objects as '-may hereinafter appear or are incident to our invention, we attain by means of a construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a general view of a locomotive cab and boiler to which my invention is shown applied; Fig. 2 is a central vvertical section of the steam valve, illustrating a portion of the connections leading to the water valve and overflow valve; Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the same; Figs.

4 and 5 are sectional views illustrating the injector proper and the water and overflow valve mechanism; andFig. 6 is a bot-tom plan view of the overflow valve.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the steam valve 7 has its inlet side connected with a steam supply pipe '8, which in turn, as will be understood, leads to the steam space of the boiler 9. The numeral 10 designates a steam conducting pipe which extends from thedischar'ge side of the steam valve 7 to the inlet side of theinjector 11, and. with this injector is associated, in a manner hereinafter described, a water valve 12 and an overflow valve 13, the former being connected to the Water supply pipe 14 and the latter having anoutlet indicated by the numeral 15. The" injector 11 in turn is provided with a water conducting pipe 16 which leads to the water space of the boiler.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, it will be-seen that the casing 17 of the steam valve 7 is formed with a sep- "turn or diaphragm l8intermediate the inlet side 19 and the outlet side 20 of the casing, and this diaphragm is provided with an opening 18 normally closed by the piston valve 21, which has a downward extension 22 formed with a passage 2-3 disposed in alinement with a passage 24 that extends through a neck 25 formed on the side ofthe casing. A port 26 is formed in the wall of the piston valve 21 in order to provide communication between the inlet side 19 of the casing and the passage 23, the latter being controlled by a pilot valve 27 whose stem 28 v is carried in the stuffing box 29 of the valve, the lifting of which by the lever 30 will first permit a flow of steam from the inlet side 19 through the port 26 and thence downwardly through the pasages 23 and 24 to the pressure conducting pipe 31, whose lower terminal 31 is connected by the union nut portion of the piston 21, which causes the piston valve 21 to lift from its seat clear of the valve opening 18 in the diaphragm 18 in order to permit full communication between the inlet and outlet sides of the steam valve. In order to obtain the desired leverage, the lever. 30 is pivoted at 38 on the valve stem 28 and is provided at its outer end with a fulcrum link 39 pivotally mounted at 40 upon a yoke 41, which latter is centered on the valve body just below the stuffing box 29 and is supported by a horizontally extending flange 42. Opposite move ment of the lever and valve 27 'first closes the passage 23, whereupon the piston valve seats downwardly and closes the valve opening 18.

The casing 36 of the overflow valve 13 (Fig. 5), is provided centrally with a septum or diaphragm 43 which is connected with the injector at 44 to receive the overfiow therefrom, the inner end of said diaphragm constituting a seat '45 for the valve '46, which normally closes off the overflow passage 47 from the outlet chamber 35. This valve is held against its seat by the stem 48 of a piston 49 through the medium of the coil spring 50 whose upper end takes against the head of the piston chamber 34.

This stem is hollowed or recessed at 51 to slidably receive the stem 46* of the valve 46, and when the piston 49 lifts, the wall of said recess serves to guide the stem of the valve 46 when the pressure exerted by the overflow is sufficient to raise it fromitsseat 45.

. Below the head 49 of the piston andth e inlet 33 is a seated plate or diaphragm 51 and intermediate said head and plate is a chamber 52 into which pressure from the inlet 33 flows when the pilot valve 27 rises to reduce the pressure above the piston valve 21. The introduction of pressure into chamber 52 raises the piston 49 clear of the overflow valve, there being an exhaust port 53 formed in the casing wall above the head 49 to permit the piston to rise. Upon the closing of the pressure conducting passages 23 and 24- by the. pilot valve 27, the piston 49 again returns to its normal position where 'not deemed necessary.

valve 62 that controls the water inlet.

it holds the valve 46 against its seat, this movement being permissible 'through the re duction of pressure and the action of the compression spring 50. A supplementary exhaust passage 54 may be additionally provided if desired. t

It will therefore be clearly understood from the foregoing description that the overflow valve disk-46 automatically opens and closes upon the opening and closing of the passage 23 by the pilot valve 27. The latter,upon being lifted in the initial move ment of the'lever 30, equalizes the pressure above and below the piston valve 21, thus facilitating the lifting of the latter by the lever, whereupon the injector 11 receives a How of steam from the steam conducting pipe 10 inorder to exert the required injecting force or pressure upon the water which the injector receives from the water valve casing 12 via the pipe 14 andpassages 55 and 56. The passage 56, which is disposed laterally with respect to the inlet passage 55, provides communication between the said passage and the injector at a point intermediate the upper steam and jet nozzles 57 and the lower nozzles, namely, the intermediate nozzle 58, combining nozzle 59, 59 and delivery nozzle 60, the latter directly communicating or delivering the feed water to the delivery pipe 16, and from thence to boiler 9. This injector nozzle construction is old and well known, consequently further description is The reference numeral 61 designates the bonnet of the water valve casing 12, and 62 the valve disk which rests upon the seat 63 disposed intermediately of and controlling the flow of water through the passages 55 and 56. Extending through the bonnet 61 is a spindle or connecting rod 64 connecting the water inlet valve 62 and an eccentric strap 65 disposed about the yoke 41 eccentrica'lly of the axisof the steam pilot valve stem 28. Relative movement of the yoke 41 is obtained by manipulating the lever handle 30 in a direction or directions at rightangles to the direction of movement of'the lever when unseating the valves '21 and 27,

and through the medium of the strap 65 the rod 64 is raised or lowered to unseat or seat Preferably this valve has its underface crossgrooved, the grooves 62.being carried high 12.0 enough beyond the seat 63 to normally permit the flow of a minimum supply of water past said seat to the passages 56 and 47 and which minimum supply is available instantly to cool the injector and for action thereupon by the steam jet in the injector.

In order that the water supply be controlled and regulated from the predetermined and minimum flow to the maximum 4 quantity desired, we form the flange 42 with a socketed extension 42, in the socket 66 of which is aspring-actuated finger or dog 67 having a beveled outer portion adapted to yieldingly engage with the beveled teeth or graduations 68 of an indicator member 69.

decrease desired in the Water flow may be conveniently regulated and controlled by the engineer without appreciable detraction' from his survey of rail and signal conditions. To operate the apparatus, the engineer applies a pull on the lever in a direction toward himself, which movement, as in the manner already described, eflects (1) the an locking of the dverflowvalve so that it may lift automatically under pressure, and. (2

the introduction of the full pressure of the ,steam upon the already available minimum -water supply flowing past valve 62 into chamber 56 to force the same through theinjector to its delivery side. Then at his leisure the engineer may tilt or movesidewise the lever 30, and with it the yoke 41,

until the latter registers the desired water flow at the indicator 67, which may be anywhere" between a and w; This movement, as already indicated, raises the rod 64. and with it the water control inlet valve 62. Opposite movement of the lever reverts the parts parts, as it is obvious that modifications and to their normal condition.

We do not intend to restrictourselves to the precise'details of construction shown, or to the exact arrangement-of the various variations thereof may be made without in any way departing from'the spirit and scope of our invention as pointed outin the following claims.

What we claim is: v

1. In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a water conductingvalve, a steam supply device having direct connections with said injector and said valve and provided with means for controlling and operating said connections including a manually actuable member, said member mounted in said device for dissimilar directional movement during the controlling of said connections by said means, and a. water indicating device associated with said member and capable of indicating water flow during movement of said member in one direction.

'2..In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a water conducting valve, a steam supply device having direct connectlons with sald injector and said valve and provided with means for controlling and operating said connections including a manually actuable member, said member mounted 1n said device for dlssimilar directional movement during the controlling of said connections by said means, and an indicator device for thewater supply valve operative during actuation of the said member in one of its directional movements.

3. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination with associated steam and water supply lines, of valves therefor, an indicator device having a connection with the valve for the water supply line, and a common means for actuating said connecition and the valve for the steam supply 4. In locomotiveboiler feed apparatus, the combination ofa feed water line, a valve in said line, a steam injecting mechanism for said line having an overflow device and provided with a hand operated actuating member, and a water controlling connection to said valve provided with a flow regulating and indicating device mounted about said member, said devices and said connection constructed and arranged for actuation by said actuating member.

5. In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having an overflow valve and a water supply valve, a steam supply valve casing provided with connections with said valve and said injector, part of said connections constituting separate pressure conducting passages leading independently from the interior of said steam supply valve casing to the injector and one of said valves,

and a common actuable means operatively associated within said steam supply valve casing and constructed for permitting a flow of pressure first through the passage to the valve and then through the passage to the injector. j

6. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a steam inlet and a water receiving inlet, a steam supply line having a starting lever, awater supply line supplying water to said inlet, a normally closed overflow passage leading from said injector, a steam supply valvular mechanism operatively positioned with refer ence to said starting lever and provided with separate pressure conducting conduits leading to said steam inlet and said overflow passage, said mechanism comprising parts .thereof controlling said conduits and constructed and arranged upon actuation of the starting lever to; automatically open the overflow passage in advance of the flow of pressure, to the steam inlet. 1

7. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a steam inlet and' a water. receiving inlet, a steam supply line having a starting lever, a

water supply line supplying water to said inlet, a. normally; closed overflow passage leading from said injector, a steam supply valvular mechanism operatively positioned movable piston therefor, said piston normally holding said valve closed, a steam supply valve having a pressure conducting passage leading to the casing to raise said piston, a manually operated controlling device for said steam supply valve, said overflow valve capable of independent opening and closing movement when the piston is in raised position, and a steam conducting passage intermediate the steam supply valve and the injector.

' 9. In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having an overflow casing provided with a valve and a relatively movable piston therefor, said piston normally holding said valve closed, a steam supply valve having a pressure conducting passage leading to the casing to raise said piston, a manually operated controlling device forsaid steam supply valve, said overflow valve capable of independent opening and closing movement when the piston is in raised position, and a steam conducting passage intermediate the steam supply valve and the injector adapted to be controlled by said device, said device constructed to permit a flow of steam first through the firstmentioned passage and then through the last-mentioined passage.

10. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination with an injector and steam and water supply lines leading to said injector, of valvular means for said lines, an actuating member therefor an indicator device for the water supply line comprising a fixed member associated with said steam line and a cooperating movable member operatively connectedwith the valvular means for the water supply line and actuable by said actuating member.

'11. In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a steam-inlet and an overflow passage, an overflow valve, means adapted for normally holding said valve seated in said assage, a steam supply valvular mechanism aving a pressure actuated member and steam conducting connection with said inlet, and a fluid conducting means for said overflow valve, said member and said means constructed and arranged with reference to said connection for operation to lift said valve seating means and thereby open --said overflow passage in advance of the flow of steam through said connection to said steam inlet.

12. In boiler feed apparatus,.the combination of an injector having a steam inlet and an overflow passage having a valve normally held closed, a steam supply valve having an actuating member and a steam conducting pipe adapted to conduct steam to saidinlet when said member is actuated, means operative for automatically releasing said overflow valve upon actuation of said member includ ing a pressure controlled member in said steam supply valve, and a water supply pipe in communication with the discharge side of said injector, said means constructed and arranged to permit the overflow passage to open in advance of the flow of steam from said steam supply valve through said inlet.

13. In locomotive boiler feedapparatus,

, the combination with an injector and steam and water supply lines leading to said injector, of valvular means for said lines, an actuating member therefor, an indicator device for the water supply line comprising a fixed member associated with said steam line and a cooperating movable member operatively connected with the valvular means' for the water supply line and actuable by said actuating member, said last mentioned valvular means including a valve constructed when seated to permit a flow of water toward and into the injector and capable of being unseated by said movable member to increase such flow of water, the indicator de vice being constructed and arranged to register such increase of flow.

14. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a steam inlet and a water receiving inlet, a steam supply line having a starting lever, a water supply line supplying water to said inlet, a normally closed overflow passage leading from said injector, a steam supply valvular mechanism operatively positioned with reference to said starting lever and provided with separate pressure conducting I conduits leading to said steam inlet and said overflow passage, said mechanism comprising parts thereof controlling said conduits and constructed and arranged for operation to automatically open the overflow passage in advance of the flow" of pressure to the steam inlet, said water supply line constructed 'to deliver water to the overflow passage co-incident with the advance opening thereof.

15. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination with an injector having a steam inlet and steam and water supply lines leading to said injector, of a normally closed overflow passage in said injector, a compound valvular mechanism for said steam conduit controlled by a valve part of said mechanism and leading to said inlet, and having a pressure conducting conduit independently controlled by another valve part of said mechanism constructed and arranged to open the overflow passage in advance of the flow of steam to the in ector inlet, said water supply line organized to deliver a supply of water to the injector co-incident with the advance opening of the said overflow passage.

16. Inlocomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combination with an injector having a steam inlet and steam and water supply lines leading to said injector, of a normally closed overflow passage in said injector, a compound valvular mechanism for said steam line provided with a ressure conducting conduit controlled by a valve part of said mechanism and leading to said inlet, and having a pressure conducting conduit independently controlled by another valve part of said mechanism constructed and arranged to open the overflow passage in advance of the flow of steam to the in ector inlet, and one of said parts of said valvular mechanism associatedin said steam line with the other part for relative automatic operative movement.

17. In locomotive boiler feed apparatus, the combinatlon with an injector having a steam inlet and steam and water supply lines leading to said injector, of a normally closed overflow passage in said injector, a compound valvular mechanism for said steam line provided with a pressureconducting conduit controlled by a valve part of said mechanism and leading to said inlet, and having a pressure conducting conduit independently controlled by another valve part of said mechanism constructed and arranged to open the overflow passage in advance of the flow of steam to the injector inlet, said water su ply line organized to deliver a supply 0 water to the injector co-incident with the advance opening of the said overflow passage, one of said parts of said valvution of an injector having a steam inlet anda water inlet, a steam supply line having a starting lever, an overflow passage leading from said injector, a check valve normally closing said passage, a water supply line normally in communication with said passage through said water inlet, and a valvular mechanism for said line provided with separate pressure conducting conduits leading to said steam inlet and said overflow passage, said mechanism constructed and adapted upon actuation f said starting lever foroperative movement with reference to said conduits to automatically permit the opening of the overflow passage valve in advance of the flow of pressure through the conduit leading to the steam inlet.

19. In boiler feed apparatus, the combination of an injector having a steam inlet and a water inlet, a steam supply line having a starting lever, a normally closed over flow passage leading from said injector, awater supply line normally in communication with said assage through saidwaterinlet, and a valvular mechanism for said line provided with separate pressure conducting conduits leading to said steam inlet and said overflow passage, said mechanism constructed and adapted upon actuation of said starting lever for operative movement to permit the opening of the overflow passage in ad vance of the flow of pressure to the steam inlet, means associated adjacent the Water inlet for -increasing the flow of Water to the injector, and water flow indicating mechanism operatively organized with said means and said starting lever.

CLENCE D. DOlU-TY. 

